Baden-Baden. Not twinned with Harrogate …

… but it ought to be. Both are – or were – spa towns. Both attracted a better class of visitor keen to cure ailments by drinking and bathing in the health-giving waters. In my opinion, Harrogate should have won hands down in attracting visitor numbers. Its sulphurous waters, reminiscent of bad eggs, are truly horrible, and must therefore do you good. The waters of Baden-Baden are without taste, though hot. No pain, no gain.

Baden-Baden welcomed visitors to this splendid railway station, now a concert hall.

Harrogate station is nothing to write home about.

Harrogate has the Pump Rooms and the Turkish Baths. Baden-Baden’s two thermal baths are extensively elegant affairs. After taking the cure, Harrogate can offer the Promenade in the Valley Gardens, while visitors to the German city can enjoy their promenade at the Trinkhalle.

Finally, Harrogate is girdled by magnificent green belt of the Stray. Baden-Baden’s visitors have instead the equally delightful Lichtentaler Aller.

We had a mere four hours in Baden-Baden today. It deserved longer. But it’s Strasbourg tomorrow, and the European Parliament. We can’t wait.

I had problems with signing in on WP and couldn’t comment for the longest time. I think this was your last post I could at least *….
I am intruiged by the ‘music hall’ – made me think of the Musée d’Orsay which was a train station This is also the ONE museum I would happily not only camp in but live for the rest of my life. It has got everything I love and need for my cultural bien-être. Also, I do love old train stations and ‘waiting rooms’ – we have a beautiful collection of some of them in Switzerland. In Paris of course we have the Gare de Lyon which seems now nearing its forever-and-a-day long transformation, enlargement, updating and what-not. For me the important bit is to always still find the right ‘hall’ and then have time to flit to the right track to catch my TGV. The best bit about the GdL is no doubt the Train Bleu, the famous restaurant. They had to renovate it too (I didn’t think so but nobody asked me!) and many of the so beloved features are no more. LUckily, others were kept but I don’t feel like going there anymore. Now I must read the rest of your EU trip and then to bed….. Hasta la vista 🙂

I know none of these fine stations, in fact I barely know Paris at all. The best one near us, and it isn’t really remarkable, is York. But do you know St Pancras in London? It’s the one where travellers on the Tunnel arrive, and it’s been magnificently restored. Recommended!

I think I might have been @ St Pancras just once. I do seem to remember the overwhelming feeling of something quite extraordinary. But then I also have to accept that with all my travelling, reading, writing etc I have a clear picture of something I haven’t actually visited. BUT if all my few grey cells are right, it would have been in the 70th and I’ d have been quite young…. If ever I get the opportunity to get there, this is most definitely on my must-visit list! I am fascinated by old train stations, maybe this love stems from having lived nearby Torquay station 🙂 🙂 🙂